Overview
For nearly two centuries, Expos – also known as World Fairs – have showcased important scientific, cultural, and architectural achievements – including the telephone, cotton candy, and the Space Needle, among others. For Expo 2020 Dubai, it is critical that the United States not just showcase its recent breakthroughs and innovations, but also our country’s history, energy, and rich geographic and cultural diversity through our citizens, providing a human connection to the United States in the ultimate public diplomacy platform.
We partnered with the U.S. Department of State to bring to life this year’s theme, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” at the USA Pavilion. Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Expo 2020 Dubai ran from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022
Impact
Global Ties U.S. and our nationwide Network of Community-Based Members recruited 75 Youth Ambassadors representing 37 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and 310 Cultural Performers from 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The Expo 2020 Dubai Youth Ambassador Program cohort was the most diverse on record, comprised of young people who speak 24 languages in addition to English and who are affiliated with 79 colleges and universities worldwide.
These Youth Ambassadors and Cultural Performers interacted with more than 1.2 million visitors to the USA Pavilion.
Meet the Youth Ambassadors and learn about their experience.
Learn more about the Cultural Performers
Continuing the Conversation
Global Ties U.S. partnered with the National Endowment for the Humanities to produce an oral history project on the impact participation in previous Expos had on U.S. citizens. The findings of the project were published in May 2022.
From May to June 2022, 19 Community-Based Members of the Global Ties Network are hosting Community Conversations to discuss how to revitalize U.S. participation in these mega-global events.
